Marketing Tactics

Starting March 26, 2012 cola lovers everywhere will be invited to get a first taste of new Pepsi NEXT, the first to deliver real cola taste with 60 percent less sugar than Pepsi-Cola.

Among optimistic and pessimistic shoppers alike, all indications point to continued frugality and conservatism in 2012. From new product development and technology to store layouts and consumer shopping patterns, here are a few trends that CPG marketers need to actively respond to with products and strategies in 2012.

CGT Editor Alliston Ackerman gives you a sneak peek into the trends and topics discussed in this month's issue.

The company's global "Banner Sun" potato chip portfolio has grown to more than $10 billion in annual retail sales, anchored by Lay's, the world's largest food brand and the No. 1 potato chip brand globally.

A new contest giving new products an opportunity to win virtual shelf space on Walmart.com has exceeded the retailer's wildest expectations. Consumer enthusiasm proves that @WalmartLabs, Walmart's hub for innovation at the intersection of social, mobile and retail, is on track to lead the next generation of e-commerce.

Consumers are no longer consuming information in a vacuum, but from multiple channels, and oftentimes, simultaneously, making it more difficult to reach and engage them in a meaningful way. Read on to learn how to use what you know about your consumers to develop the right cross-channel marketing strategy.